Half to charles a



(No Model.) M. STOCKLMEIER.

UMBRELLA AND PAN.

No. 536,767. Patented Apr. 2, 1895.

NrTiEn STATES PATENT Orrtcne MATHIAS STOCKLMEIER, OF LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO CHARLES A. BRONAUGH, OF SAME PLACE.

UMBRELLA AND FAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 536,767, dated April 2, 1895. Application filed November 7,1894. Serial No. 528,155. (N 0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MATHIAS STOOKLMEIER, a citizen of the United States, residing in Los Gatos, county of Santa Clara, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Parasols and Fans; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to improvements in parasols.

It consists in certain details of construction which will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows the device entirely folded, and the joint mechanisnn. Fig. 2 is a view of the parasol extended, showing the overlapping ribs and catch, and the extension joint. Fig. 3 shows the parasol converted into a fan.

The object of my invention is to provide an article which may be converted into an ordinary parasol, standing at right angles with the handle, or a carriage parasol where it lies parallel with the handle, or a fan, or it may be folded entirely into such small compass as to be carried in a hand-bag or pocket.

The parasol proper consists of ribs A, one end of each rib being pivoted to a central head or pin 13 so that all the ribs but one are revoluble about this pin. The rib A may be formed with or secured to the inner disk or collar E, between which and the outer one, the remaining ribs are pivoted. W

' The covering 0 is connected with the ribs so that when the parasol is extended, the covering is sufliciently narrower than the entire circumference of the parasol to leave the stationary rib and the last movable one a short distance apart when the ribs have been moved around the center so as to occupy the position which they should do when the parasol is opened. In this condition the parasol is approximately a flat disk having radial ribs extending from the center to the periphery, being suitably fastened to the outer covering and having any ornamental border or margin which may be desired. I

Upon either the movable or stationary rib A or A, which are adjacent to each other, I form a hook or catch D of any suitable or desired description which is adapted to engage with the adjacent rib when the two are forcibly .and turned. The pin extends down a short distance on the interior or concaved side of the parasol, this extension being flattened upon one side, and the corresponding end of the rod or handle F is in like manner flattened, so that a pin passing transversely through the two, unites them with their flat surfaces lying together. The ends of the rod and pin are beveled to abut against corresponding shoulders when the two are in a straight line. WVhen in a straight line, they form a cylindrical rod and they are held in place in line by means of a sliding sleeve G which surrounds the rod below the joint, and is made of sufficient interior diameter to contain a spiral spring H which acts upon the sleeve so as to automatically force it up over thejoint when the two parts are in straight line. When the two parts are thus in line with each other, the parasol stands at right angles with the handle and is in the form of an ordinary parasol. If it is desired to turn it to stand parallel with the handle, it is only necessary to pull down the slide until it releases the joint when the joint will bend and allow the.

two parts to take position approximately at right angles with each other, so that the parasol lies with one edge against the side of the handle. In order to lock it sufficiently in this position, I form a small notch I in the edge of the halved portion of the pinB, so that the edge of the spring-actuated slide G which is constantly pressed against this portion of the pin, will enter the notch and hold it in place. By pulling the slide down it will release it and allow it to be turned into its other position.

The handle or rod F, the upper end of which forms the joint above described, extends down into a larger rod or handle F which is bored out for the purpose of admitting it, and it is slidable therein. It is normally held in position when extended by a spring catch J hav- 5 ing a knob projecting through the side of the handle K so that by pressing upon this knob, the upper portion of the rod will be allowed to slide down into the handle, thus making the handle about half of its ordinary length. By to now disengaging the clasp by which the two adjacent and separable ribs A A were united, the elasticity of the ribs will straighten the top out into its approximately fiat form, at the same time separating the adjacent ribs A A. By now turning the movable ribs around the pin upon which they are pivoted, they may all be closed up together against the stationary one A, and the joint at the upper end being broken so as to bend at right angles with the handle, the folded parasol lies along the handle in a compact package which may be carried in a case, a hand-bag, or even in the pocket.

If it is desired to use the device as a fan, it is opened to one half its full extent by moving the ribs around the pivot pin and the joint remaining bent so that the handle lies along one edge of the segment thus formed where it is locked by the slide Gand notch I, it may be held in the hand and be used as a fan. By this construction I am enabled to employ the device in all the forms to which it is conveniently applicable, and to extend it at pleasure or fold it into very small compass.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- l. A parasol consisting of elastic ribs, a single pin passing through the meeting ends of said ribs and forming a common center about which all of the ribs turn, a covering fixed to the ribs and capable of folding or unfolding when the ribs are moved about their single pivot pin, said covering being sufiiciently less in extent than a complete circle, so that when the ribs are separated to their fullest extent, a space will be left between the two adjacent ribs whereby the closing of this space will automatically cause the elastic ribs to curve throughout their length and the parasol to take a concave-convex shape, and to resume a straight condition when the adjacent ribs close.

2. In a parasol, a head or pin carried by the handle portion, radial ribs each of which is pivoted at its inner end upon said pin and tnrnable about the same, disks fixed to the pin upon each side of the ribs forming a groove or channel within which they turn, a covering attached to the ribs and formiugsufficiently less than a complete circle when spread out to leave the two adjacent ribs slightly separated and the disk thus formed approximately flat, and when the two adjacent ribs are brought together and caused to overlap, the tension of the covering will curve the flat disk into a concave-con vex shape, and means for detachably locking the ribs adjacent to the slotted portion of the cover, one to the other.

3. In a parasol, a series of ribs revoluble about a single pin or head to which they are pivoted, a cover attached to said ribs and having its edges united by overlapping and securing two adjacent ribs, an extension inwardly of the pin which is flattened on one side, a rod having a corresponding flattened end pivoted to the flattened end of the pin, and a spring-actuated slide adapted to move over the joint thus formed, and lock it when the parts are in straight line with each other to form a handle for the parasol.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

MA'lIlIAS S'IOCKLMEIER.

\Vitnesses:

C. R. STETsoN, W. PEOK. 

